What is 1-1/2 inch heat shrink tubing used for?

1-1/2 inch heat shrink tubing sleeves and protects large cable bundles and assemblies — multi-conductor bundles at switchgear entries, cable-tray exits, conduit termination finishing, and OD-critical assemblies where a 38mm bore is the minimum workable size. The Helixal 1-1/2" 2:1 version is single-wall polyolefin for abrasion protection, band marking, and strain relief in dry-rated industrial environments.

How much does 1-1/2 inch heat shrink tubing shrink down to?

Helixal 1-1/2" 2:1 heat shrink has a 38mm (1-1/2 inch) expanded diameter and recovers to approximately 19mm at full heat — the 2:1 ratio halves the diameter. Size it so the 38mm bore slides over the bundle before heating and the recovered 19mm grips it firmly.

Is 1-1/2 inch heat shrink tubing waterproof?

No. The Helixal 1-1/2" 2:1 Standard tube is single-wall with no adhesive liner — moisture-resistant but not waterproof. For a fully sealed, watertight sleeve over a 1-1/2 inch bundle or cable penetration, use the Helixal 3:1 Dual Wall, whose hot-melt adhesive liner flows into the bundle and forms a 360° seal.

What size cable does 1-1/2 inch heat shrink tubing fit?

At 38mm expanded diameter, 1-1/2 inch tubing slips over very large single cables and grouped multi-conductor bundles up to roughly 38mm across, recovering to about 19mm. It is a bundle-and-assembly size rather than a single-gauge size — measure the widest point of the bundle and allow clearance before heating.

Is the 600V rating AC or DC?

AC. Heat shrink tubing is rated under UL 224, which expresses voltage in volts rms — so our 600V tubing is rated 600 V rms, and we hold no rating above it. The UL 224 standard ratings are 150V, 300V and 600V; since Edition 8, published February 2026, an optional higher voltage rating is also available, which our tubing does not carry. On any circuit above 600V — a 1000 Vdc solar string, for example — the conductor itself must carry the insulation rating, UL 4703 PV wire or RHW-2/USE-2, both rated 2000V, with heat shrink used as a sealing cover over those already-rated components rather than as the primary insulation.

Does 1-1/2" heat shrink cover 1000 Vdc battery cable?

As a cover, not as insulation — and for an outdoor PV termination the 3:1 dual wall is the better choice, because it seals. This 1-1/2" (38mm) tubing is rated 600 V rms and we hold no rating above it, so on a 1000 Vdc string the conductor carries the rating: UL 4703 PV wire or RHW-2/USE-2, both rated 2000V. Where this size earns its place is insulating Very large cables terminations in a dry enclosure. If a supplier offers you 1000V rated tubing, ask which standard, edition and file number backs the number.

2:1 · 1-1/2" · 60 ft● LIVE SPEC

UL 224 RecognizedFlame Retardant600V Rated HELIXAL 2:1 Standard Heat Shrink Tubing 1-1/2" (38mm) — 60ft Roll

BLACK · 1-1/2" · 60 FTHELIXAL · ISO 9001

2:1 Single Wall · UL 224 Recognized

1-1/2"
2:1 Heat Shrink

Q: How much tubing is on a 1-1/2 inch roll?

Each Helixal 1-1/2" 2:1 Standard roll holds 60 feet of tubing, cut to length — a practical stocking quantity for facility maintenance teams and industrial contractors who need large-diameter sleeving on demand without special-order minimums.

FitsVery large cables38mm

1-1/2 inch heat shrink tubing is designed for industrial cable protection sleeves, large-bundle band-marking in process plants and data centers, conduit termination finishing, and the largest cable assemblies in commercial and industrial electrical work. Typical applications include sleeving over multi-conductor bundles at switchgear entries, covering cable tray exits through fire-rated walls, and providing abrasion protection on OD-critical cable assemblies where 38mm bore is the minimum workable size. At 38mm expanded diameter, this tube slides freely over very large cables and bundles and recovers to approximately 19.0mm. The 2:1 single-wall construction, qualified to UL 224, is the right specification for abrasion protection, band marking, and mechanical strain relief in dry industrial environments. When the sleeve must provide a water-resistant barrier at a cable penetration through an outdoor enclosure or wet-rated panel, the 3:1 dual-wall adhesive version is the appropriate choice. The 60ft roll is a practical stocking quantity for facility maintenance teams and industrial contractors who need large-diameter sleeving available on-demand without the cost of special-order quantities.

★★★★★4.7 · 225 verified ratings across the Helixal range

42 in stock · Ships in 24h

Order up to 42 online · need more? Trade pricing

Size1-1/2" · 38mm

3/32"1/8"3/16"1/4"5/16"3/8"1/2"5/8"3/4"1"1-1/4"1-1/2"2"

Click any size to navigate · 60 ft per roll

$38.3960 ft spool

→ Dispatched within 24 hours — delivered in 1–3 days→ 30-day money-back guarantee — 30 days to return it

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SKU: B0FJHCYVQZ · 1-1/2" (38mm) · 60 ft

Spec Sheet

1-1/2"
data sheet.

High-volume UL 224 Recognized polyolefin at an honest per-foot cost. The industry standard for band marking, bundling, and dry indoor electrical insulation.

Imperial Size

1-1/2"

Expanded diameter

Metric Size

38mm

Nominal

Roll Length

60 ft

Per spool

Wire Gauge

Very large cables

Bare conductor

Shrink Ratio

2:1

Single wall

Construction

Single Wall

No adhesive liner

Adhesive Liner

None

Not waterproof

Voltage Rating

600V AC

UL 224 — 600 V rms

Temp Rating

-55°C to +125°C

Continuous service

Shrink Temp

100°C (212°F)

Shrinking starts

Material

Polyolefin

UL 224 Recognized

Certification

UL 224

Recognized Component

Flammability

Self-extinguishing

UL 224 Recognized

Color

Black

Standard finish

Moisture

Resistant — not sealed

Single wall only

Sizing over a connector? The Wire Gauge row above is for bare conductor. Heat shrink must be sized to the widest point it passes over, so a crimped butt splice or lug barrel needs a larger tube than the wire alone — a 22–18 AWG splice barrel measures 5–6mm, a 16–14 AWG barrel 7–8mm, and a 12–10 AWG barrel 9–11mm. Measure the barrel, allow about 20% clearance, and confirm the recovered diameter is smaller than the narrowest thing the tube must grip. Use the size calculator.

What the
trade says.

Verified Buyers ★ · Full Range4.7★★★★★225 ratings · 84% 5-starCombined verified-buyer rating for every Helixal product — all ratios, all sizes — not this size alone.

★★★★★

Nice product at great price

Was wiring my car and had quite a few smaller wires to crimp and cover. This worked great — shrinks clean and consistent every time.

Church's · Verified Purchase★ Verified

★★★★★

Perfect for bulk workshop use

Bought this for my automotive workshop and the 120ft roll is exactly what I needed. Shrinks consistently and cleanly every time. Much better value than small packs.

Mike R. · Verified Purchase★ Verified

★★★★★

Professional finish every time

Clean black finish, no bubbles or wrinkles when applied correctly. UL listing is important for commercial electrical work — ticks that box too.

James T. · Verified Purchase★ Verified

Customer Reviews

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Sizing & Application — 1-1/2 inch, 60ft roll

A 19mm floor. Check what the tube has to grip before you check what it has to clear.

1-1/2 inch (38mm) passes over large power cables, shore power leads and industrial assemblies up to roughly 30mm, and recovers to about 19mm. That recovered figure is unusually consequential. At the small diameters nobody worries about the floor of the range, because almost everything is thicker than a 2mm wall. At 19mm the floor is higher than a great many of the cables people try to put this tube on.

The floor of the range, and why it catches people out

Sizing habits are formed on small tubing, where the recovered diameter is so far below anything you would sensibly use that it never enters the decision. You check what the tube clears, you order it, it fits. That habit scales badly.

At 38mm the tube stops shrinking at about 19mm. A 4/0 welding cable is around 18–20mm over the jacket, so it is right at the boundary. Anything appreciably thinner — a 2/0 cable at roughly 15mm, say — is inside the tube rather than gripped by it. The tube reaches its programmed recovery and stays there, a loose sleeve that slides along the run.

So at this size the order of the checks reverses. Establish the smallest thing the tube must close onto first, and confirm it is comfortably above 19mm. Only then check that the widest point on the assembly stays under about 30mm. If both hold, the size is right; if the first fails, no amount of clearance at the top rescues it.

1-1/2 inch on the 60ft roll

Property	Figure	Why it matters
Expanded diameter	38mm (1-1/2")	Clears terminated assemblies up to about 30mm
Recovered diameter	≈19mm	The floor — check this before checking the clearance
Usable span	≈20–30mm	Narrow in relative terms; 4/0 jacket sits near the bottom
Check order	Smallest grip point first	Reverses the habit formed on small tubing
Wall type	Single-wall polyolefin	Strain relief, abrasion and identification in dry locations
Roll length	60 ft	Three to five large terminations per job; several jobs per roll

Large tubes recover slowly and unevenly if heated in one place. Rotate continuously and work in passes rather than finishing one face.

When to size differently

01 · The cable is under about 20mm

It will be sleeved, not gripped. Drop to 1-1/4 inch, which recovers to roughly 15.5mm, or move to the 1-1/2" 3:1 whose floor is about 12.7mm.

02 · The assembly exceeds about 30mm

Step to 2 inch. At these diameters clearance disappears faster than the nominal numbers suggest.

03 · The termination must exclude water

Shore power inlets and outdoor feeds need the 1-1/2" 3:1 Dual Wall, which both recovers further and fills the remaining gap with adhesive.

04 · Above 600V

Rated 600V rms. At a 1000 Vdc solar combiner the conductor carries the insulation rating and tubing is a cover over an already-rated component.

Keep reading →1-1/2" 3:1 Dual Wall — a lower recovery floor · 2" 2:1 — the next size up · 2:1 vs 3:1 vs 4:1 — which ratio to use

How it shrinks.

Measure & Select

Choose a size where the expanded diameter is 20–30% larger than your wire or bundle. Smaller tubes will slide on easier; slightly oversize is better than too tight.

Cut & Thread

Cut to length and thread onto the wire before making the splice. The tubing cannot pass over a crimped terminal — position it first, then complete the connection.

Apply Heat

The tubing starts shrinking at 100°C — use a heat gun and keep it moving until it has shrunk evenly along its length. Work from the center outward. Avoid open flame — it scorches the tubing and creates uneven shrink.

Inspect

Finished tubing should be tight with no bubbles or lifted edges. No adhesive will appear at the ends — this is single-wall tubing. Confirm even recovery across the full length.

✓

Watch

See 1-1/2" In Use

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From Micro Wires to Heavy Duty Cables — 39 Sizes Available

0:30

Short

From Micro Wires to Heavy Duty Cables — 39 Sizes Available

Size Reference

Expanded vs.
recovered.

Actual 1-1/2" tube at full expanded diameter (38mm) and after heat recovery. Use this as your fit reference before cutting.

Expanded: 38mm — slides over Very large cables

Shrink ratio: 2:1 on full heat

1-1/2" 2:1 heat shrink tubing — expanded diameter 38mm versus recovered size reference diagram

1-1/2" · 38mm expanded2:1 recovery · fits Very large cables

Use it on.

Large Cable Bundle Management

Consolidates and protects the largest cable bundles in industrial facilities, data centers, and power distribution environments.

Harness Band Marking

Provides large-diameter band identification on industrial wire harnesses for maintenance, commissioning, and future troubleshooting.

Pipe & Hose Identification

Identifies pipes, hoses, and conduits in process plants, mining operations, and heavy manufacturing facilities.

Panel Entry Strain Relief

Applied at the point where large cable bundles enter panels and enclosures to distribute mechanical stress and prevent jacket wear.

Cable Tray Finishing

Provides a clean finished end cap on cable tray bundles at termination points in industrial and commercial electrical installations.

Industrial Mechanical Protection

Covers large cable assemblies in environments where abrasion, oil, and mechanical contact are present but submersion is not.

Size Guide

1-1/2" Questions.

Technical Guides

From the Blog

All Guides →

Free Tool

1-1/2" 3:1 Dual Wall →Waterproof adhesive-lined 1-1/2" 3:1 Short Pack →10ft trial/repair pack

All 13 sizes.

View line overview →

3/32"2.4mm120 ft 1/8"3.2mm120 ft 3/16"4.8mm120 ft 1/4"6.4mm120 ft 5/16"8mm120 ft 3/8"9.5mm120 ft 1/2"12.7mm120 ft 5/8"16mm90 ft 3/4"19.1mm90 ft 1"25.4mm90 ft 1-1/4"31mm60 ft

Current1-1/2"38mm60 ft

2"50.8mm60 ft

Recovered diameter is approx. 1/2 of the expanded size shown · All sizes ship to USA & Canada

1-1/2"
2:1 Heat Shrink

1-1/2"
data sheet.

What the
trade says.

A 19mm floor. Check what the tube has to grip before you check what it has to clear.

The floor of the range, and why it catches people out

1-1/2 inch on the 60ft roll

When to size differently

How it shrinks.

Measure & Select

Cut & Thread

Apply Heat

Inspect

See 1-1/2" In Use

From Micro Wires to Heavy Duty Cables — 39 Sizes Available

Expanded vs.
recovered.

Use it on.

Large Cable Bundle Management

Harness Band Marking

Pipe & Hose Identification

Panel Entry Strain Relief

Cable Tray Finishing

Industrial Mechanical Protection

1-1/2" Questions.

From the Blog

Heat Shrink Size Calculator

2:1 vs 3:1 vs 4:1 Heat Shrink Ratio Guide

2:1 Heat Shrink Uses — Bundling & More

Size Chart & Selection Guide

Heat Shrink vs Electrical Tape

Best Heat Shrink Tubing 2026

All 13 sizes.

1-1/2" 2:1 Heat Shrink

1-1/2" data sheet.

What the trade says.

A 19mm floor. Check what the tube has to grip before you check what it has to clear.

The floor of the range, and why it catches people out

1-1/2 inch on the 60ft roll

When to size differently

How it shrinks.

Measure & Select

Cut & Thread

Apply Heat

Inspect

See 1-1/2" In Use

From Micro Wires to Heavy Duty Cables — 39 Sizes Available

Expanded vs. recovered.

Use it on.

Large Cable Bundle Management

Harness Band Marking

Pipe & Hose Identification

Panel Entry Strain Relief

Cable Tray Finishing

Industrial Mechanical Protection

1-1/2" Questions.

From the Blog

Heat Shrink Size Calculator

2:1 vs 3:1 vs 4:1 Heat Shrink Ratio Guide

2:1 Heat Shrink Uses — Bundling & More

Size Chart & Selection Guide

Heat Shrink vs Electrical Tape

Best Heat Shrink Tubing 2026

All 13 sizes.

1-1/2"
2:1 Heat Shrink

1-1/2"
data sheet.

What the
trade says.

Expanded vs.
recovered.